Locomotive and car wheel centering device



June 17, 1941. R McGOWAN LOCOMOTIVE AND CAR WHEEL GENTERING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 20, 1940 flbger 1;. MFowan June 17, 1941. G MoGOWAN LOCOMOTIVE AND CAR WHEEL CENTERING DEVICE Filed March 20, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Roger I; MFawlm l 'ntented June 17, 1941 we: LOCOMOTIVE AND CAR. WHEEL GEMTERING- DEWCE l H Itoger G. McGowan, Youngstown, Ohio Application March 20, 1940, Serial No. 325,088

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a centering device for locomotive and car wheels primarily adapted for use in connection with locomotive and car wheel grinding machines, for instance that disclosed in my copending application filed January 4, 1940, Serial No. 312,425.

It is particularly aimed to provide such a construction as fits the center of the axle, engaging the latter on each side thereof resting on the tops of the rails, beneath the wheels and connected to the rails, and being of a construction rendering the same readily portable and separable so that it may be moved to any location along the track and used in connection with the wheels of the locomotive or car without requiring the latter to be removed.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing my centering device inside elevation, taken transversely of railway rails, the latter being shown in transverse section, and also showing car wheels;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the parts of Figure Figure 3 is an end elevation of my improvements;

Figure 4 is a detail section taken on the plane of line 4-4 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on the plane of line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, my improvements are shown in connection with usual railroad rails as at It! on which wheels I! travel and which wheels are carried by an axle 12. The wheels II are to be taken as conventional locomotive and car wheels and they are adapted to be ground by a mechanism such as that disclosed in my pending application 312,425, filed January 4, 1940, while remaining in place on the locomotive or car. The present invention is a wheel centering device adapted for use in addition to the said grinding machine of application 312,425 or the equivalent.

The present improvements comprise plates 13 which are adapted to rest on the rails and each has a depending lug at I4 in which screws I5 are screw threaded and adapted for binding engage ment and contact with the inner surfaces of the webs of the rails Hi to rigidly support the device.

Upstanding studs l6 are integral with the inner ends of the plates l3 and between them a spacing tube I! is disposed. A rod l8 passes through openings in the studs I 6 and through the tube ll, receiving nuts 19 at its ends, which are screw threaded thereto as shown and which bind against each other for locking purposes and against the studs Iii.

At the outer ends of the plates l3, uprights or frames 20 are provided. Such frames 20 may have arms 2| integral with the plates l3 and integral with them, bearing blocks 22 are pro vided. Centering pins 23 are screw threaded in the bearings 22, as shown, and their inner end portions 24 are tapered, so as to centrally engage the opposite ends of the axle [2 at the usual marks or depressions 25. Cranks 26 may be formed integral with the centering pins 23 so as to be operable to adjust the centering pins. Lock nuts 2! are screw threaded on the centering pins and adapted to abut the bearing members 22.

Bars 28 may be integral with the bar 2| at the top and accommodate rods 29 removably therethrough which also pass through a spacing tube 30 disposed between the innermost bars 28. At the outer ends, nuts 3! are screwed.

threaded upon the bars and. against the outer bars 28 said nuts 3| are adapted to be tightened as well as tightened against each other.

It will be realized that the device forms a rigid structure which may be located at any portion of a track and rigidly secured to the rails by the screws I5, the same resting on the rails, it being realized that prior to positioning of the device, the car or locomotive is jacked up and the wheels H and axle l2 jacked up out of contact with the rails, following which the truck may be supported on blocks disposed on the plates I3. The wheels Il may be accurately centered by means of the present improvements and to aid in obtaining a true and correct level of the centers, the bearings or blocks 22 are smoothly and accurately finished. It will be understood, that the present invention or centering device is used as an aid to the use of a grinding machine such as that disclosed in my previously mentioned copending application 312,425.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A wheel centering device comprising plates adapted to rest on rails, lugs depending from the plates, means carried by the lugs adapted to bear against the inner surfaces of rails, means detachably connecting the plates together, frames carried by the plates, bearings on the frames, centering pins engageable with opposite ends of an axle, said centering pins being screw threaded in said bearings, means adjacent the upper ends of the frames spacing them and detachably connecting them together, comprising bars on the frames, rods passing through the bars, a spacing tube through which the rods pass abutting the bars, fastenings on the rods, the detachable connection for the plates comprising lugs on the plates, rods passing through the last mentioned lugs, a spacing sleeve between the last mentioned lugs through which the rods pass, and nuts on the last mentioned rods.

2. A wheel centering device comprising plates adapted to rest on rails, frames integral with and rising from the plates, means detachably secured to the upper ends of the frames connecting them together, said plates extending inwardly toward each other and beyond the frames, connecting means detachably secured to the inner end portions of said plates, means carried by the plates to secure them rigidly to the rails, hearings on and integral with the frames between the plates and first mentioned means, and centering pins screw threaded in said bearings and engageable with opposite ends of an axle.

ROGER G. MCGOWAN. 

